Republicans hold vigil in Normal for Charlie Kirk

NORMAL (25News Now) - One day after the murder of conservative youth activist Charlie Kirk, reactions continue to pour in.

In Central Illinois, local Republicans asked the community to meet them at the Illinois State University flagpole Thursday night.

Kirk was killed while speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

“I’m attending to support my friends, especially. I’ve obviously seen Charlie Kirk speak. He was very influential in our lives, and we just want to make sure that as many people know that we have as much support as possible,” said Dylan Steffen, the chair of the Young Republicans for Central Illinois.

This was not an official event for Turning Point USA, the group that Kirk founded in 2012, but some members of the ISU chapter gave speeches during the public remembrance.

Roughly 75 people attended, singing Christian songs and condemning violence.

Local high school students attended, recalling when Kirk spoke at ISU in April. There were also Republican leaders there, hoping to encourage the young members of their movement.

They said they will remember Kirk for his efforts to talk with the people he disagreed with and his influence on young conservatives.

Although saddened by this event, they believe that Kirk’s assassination will ultimately energize the right, describing the future with optimism.

“You know it’s irrelevant if you’re on the red side or the blue side. This kind of violence is unacceptable; it just divides our country even more than it currently is. By the assassination of Charlie Kirk, what we’ve created is more Charlie Kirks across the country,” said Republican Tim Ruestman.

On the national stage, Illinois House Representatives, including Darin LaHood (R-Illinois), introduced a congressional resolution to honor Kirk, and the president will award him the Medal of Freedom.